Parker McCay Leader, Brown & Connery Partner Face Racketeering Indictments Alongside George Norcross

“Instead of contributing to the successes of the city of Camden, through a series of criminal acts alleged in the state’s case, the Norcross enterprise took the Camden Waterfront all for themselves,” Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said.

A leading attorney at the firm Parker McCay and a partner with Brown & Connery are facing criminal charges for their alleged involvement in a purported criminal enterprise led by New Jersey power broker George E. Norcross III.

At a press conference Monday afternoon, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the indictments of six defendants, including Norcross, as well as his brother, Philip A. Norcross, who is managing shareholder and CEO of Parker McCay, and William M. Tambussi, a partner with Brown & Connery.

A 13-count indictment was unsealed Monday, alleging that Norcross’ alleged enterprise obtained property rights on the Camden Waterfront for itself and others through a series of unlawful acts. The indictment further alleged that the company collected millions of dollars in government-issued tax credits and controlled and influenced government officials to further the enterprise’s interests, according to the attorney general’s press release.

Neither Phillip Norcross, nor Tambussi immediately returned messages seeking comment.

Phillip Norcross’s attorney Kevin H. Marino of Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, said his client “is an exceptional attorney and has an unblemished record at the bar.”

“The idea that he was in some criminal enterprise is fanciful. We look forward to his vindication at trial, whenever we can have one,” he said. “This is an overtly politically motivated indictment, and I look forward to representing Phil Norcross at trial.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Tambussi said he was “astounded” by the charges, and that he felt his work benefited the Camden because litigation pursued against a Philadelphia developer ended in a settlement that paid the city millions of dollars.

George Norcross is being represented by Michael Critchley, Sr. of Critchley Kinum & Luria, who did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

During the press conference Monday afternoon, George Norcross sat in the front row. Event staff approached him and asked him to move to a seat that was not reserved. Some discussion took place, and a person off camera could be heard asking, “Is there someone more significant than the defendant in the case to have a seat in the front row while he is being excoriated by the attorney general of the state?”

Norcross remained in his front-row seat while Platkin revealed the state’s allegations against the six defendants. Platkin said that the redevelopment of the Camden Waterfront had the potential to serve as the city’s salvation.

“As the state alleges, the Norcross enterprise manipulated government programs and processes, designed to attract development and investment, instead to suit their own financial desires,” Platkin said. “Instead of contributing to the successes of the city of Camden, through a series of criminal acts alleged in the state’s case, the Norcross enterprise took the Camden Waterfront all for themselves.”

The indictment also named Dana L. Redd, the current CEO of Camden Community Partnership and former Camden mayor and city council member; Sidney R. Brown, the CEO of a trucking and logistics company, member of the board at Cooper Health, and partner in groups that own the buildings at issue in the indictment; and John J. O’Donnell, an executive leader of The Michaels Organization, a residential development company.

All six defendants were charged with first-degree racketeering. The indictment alleged that, as early as 2012, the Norcross enterprise used its power and influence over government officials to craft legislation tailored to serve the company’s interests with the cooperation of Redd, Camden’s then-mayor, and other officials. It also alleged that the Norcross enterprise used parts of the city’s government to aid the group in acquiring property and property rights for itself and others through coercion, extortion, and other criminal acts.

Norcross is the executive chairman of insurance firm Conner Strong & Buckelew and a former member of the Democratic National Committee, chair of the Camden County Democratic Committee, and chair of the board of trustees for Cooper University Healthcare.

The 111-page indictment alleges that George Norcross threatened the developer of 11 Cooper who held the rights to the building that would become Triad1828 Centre, the tallest building on the waterfront and current home to Conner Strong & Buckelew.

“As a result of the enterprise’s conduct, in October 2016, the developer sold the rights to $18 million worth of tax credits to an entity owned by Norcross enterprise members and associates, which the entity began selling in 2022,” the indictment stated. “The developer also sold and extinguished other rights, allowing three entities associated with the Norcross enterprise, including CSB, to apply for additional tax credits on the same day the agreement of sale was signed. The tax credits approved for the three entities totaled over $240 million.”

In addition to the racketeering charge, the defendants also face charges of financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct and conspiring to commit theft by extortion, criminal coercion, financial facilitation, misconduct by a corporate official, and official misconduct.

“The alleged conduct of the Norcross enterprise has caused great harm to individuals, businesses, nonprofits, the people of the state of New Jersey, and especially the city of Camden and its residents,” Platkin said. “That stops today. We must never accept politics and government—that is funded with tax dollars—to be weaponized against the people it serves. Today we reaffirm that no one in our state is above the law—period.”